Segments in this Video

Introduction: OSHA Soil Classification for Construction Safety(00:49)

FREE PREVIEW

Trenching kills 40 construction workers every year. Classifying soil is one way to keep workers safe. Viewers will learn how having the right information about a construction site will help save lives.

Soil Inspector(02:03)

Viewers learn OSHA requirements when doing excavation work. For all excavations a competent person must conduct a full investigation every day or when any trench conditions change.

Soil Types(02:30)

Viewers learn how to tell the difference between soils. "Unconfined compressive strength" is a method used for classifying soil into types A, B or C. Soil with water seeping through is always type C.

Preliminary Tests(00:56)

Initial visual tests are performed to determine if there are factors on sight that will lower the strength of the soil.

Soil Testing(02:09)

Choose a good soil sample as well as additional samples as the excavation gets deeper. The plasticity and thumb penetration tests are demonstrated.

Pocket Penetrometer(01:31)

Viewers learn how to use this compression testing tool and that it may give false results if the soil contains rocks or pebbles. Learn exemptions that prevent a soil from being type A.

Review: OSHA Soil Classification for Construction Safety(00:48)

OSHA classifies soil into 3 main groups. Type A is the most stable and type C is the least. After a visual inspection, a competent person can perform several tests to determine soil type.

Description

Some types of soil are stable and some are not—and since one cubic yard of earth weighs as much as 3,000 pounds, trench cave-ins can be deadly for construction workers. The best way to prevent such tragedies is to determine the soil type before any excavation work begins. Featuring detailed scenes of professional trenching jobs, this video introduces trainees to OSHA soil classification techniques, preparing them to properly slope, bench, or shore a trench. Viewers learn how a visual inspection of soil is conducted (encompassing signs of vibration, previous disturbance, water seepage, and fissuring), followed by the three most common testing methods: plasticity, thumb penetration, and pocket penetrometer. The meanings of soil types A, B, and C are explained, as are cohesive and granular soil categories as well as the concept of unconfined compressive strength. An indispensible guide for any construction training program! (11 minutes)